January 25th

Why oh why is Scotland the only country in the UK to still have the ban on tail docking of working dogs? Let’s hope that the prospective study on tail injuries in working gundogs and terriers shows that, without doubt, tail docking puppies is in their best interest when it comes to welfare.
The study has been commissioned by the Scottish Government and will be conducted by the University of Glasgow, School of Veterinary Medicine.
This morning I took poor Ruby to our local vet. Ruby is my daughter’s 2 year old Hungarian Vizsla and she has been staying with us over the Christmas and New Year period. Ruby damaged her tail over a year ago and, since this time, she has had countless bandages and plasters on the tip of her tail to try and help the poor dog. She has not been allowed to express her feelings as, every time her tail whips about when she tries to greet you, she is told to sit down to try and save the pain of her tail bursting open again. I have lost count the number of times that we have had to wipe the blood from the ceilings and walls. Imagine losing your hand and thrashing the stump of your arm against the wall. This must be what the poor dog feels.
By the time I write this Ruby will have had her tail AMPUTATED; a totally unnecessary procedure all because some bureaucratic civil servant gave the wrong advice to the Scottish parliament 4 years ago. How many other dogs have gone through this very, very painful experience since that decision was made? I hope they can sleep at night! I will let you all know how Ruby gets on.
It seems a long time since the 12th of August but now we are into the last week of the season I wish everybody a great time at the Keepers and beaters days.